Lab Format for Chemistry

1. Title

2. Objective or Purpose-

  • Copy this from the lab
  • If it’s not on the lab, you will need to summarize, in one sentence, the purpose of the lab

3. Materials and Equipment

  • You can make a summary of the materials and equipment needed for the lab.

4. Procedure-

  • Make a BRIEF SUMMARY of the procedures. Do this in YOUR OWN WORDS. Include the safety precautions.

5. Data or Observations-

  • If the data is numerical it should be presented in data form.
  • Numbers must include units and proper number of significant figures.
  • You must include units
  • When writing observations, include the part of the lab where you made this observation. For example: The temperature of the water started to rise shortly after I placed the candle beneath the beaker.

6. Graph-

  • Graphs are an excellent way of visualizing relationships. Many labs involving numerical data will require a graph.
  • Use as much of the graph paper as possible
  • Write the title on the graph and label both axis. Remember that your numbering must be consistent but you do not need to start at zero.

7. Calculations-

  • Show all work, include units on every number.
  • Keep all significant figures.

8. Questions- Each handout will ask several questions, they should be answered in complete sentences.

9. Conclusions/Analysis- **THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS QUESTIONS.***

  • Explain how the lab completed the purpose.
  • Draw a meaningful conclusion that is supported by the data and observations. Refer back to your data and observations. According to my data, the rate of burning for a candle is 1.42g/minute. I was able to come within experimental error on my second trial. To calculate this rate I divided the mass of the candle that was lost by the time I burned the candle.
  • Discuss percent error.
  • Check your calculations with an industry standard, or with what you expected the outcome of the lab to be.
  • You MUST explain several reasons why your lab data is different than expected. The reasons must be valid (i.e. “I measured wrong” and “I did my sig figs wrong” are NOT valid reasons.
  • You must discuss ways you would correct the experimental error. For example: In this lab we used a Styrofoam cup as a calorimeter. There are several issues with doing this. First, the Styrofoam cup does not have several layers of insulation like a true calorimeter. Second, the Styrofoam cup does not have a lid like a true calorimeter. These allow for the loss of heat which will affect my calculation for the heat of energy. Additional experimental errors may include…..